AnuEssentials.com

The Anu Essentials line of hair and body products are the first to featured on the exquisite fragrance blog of Fragrance Belle Lettres.

BLOG POST: ANU ESSENTIALS: The Art Of Making You Look and Feel Good by

I received a bundle of joy in the mail. It was packaged in neat and coordinating colors of lavender and turquoise that revealed the look of vitality andfreshness. No, I am not talking about a baby, but I am talking about natural products that are as pure as a baby’s skin.

ANU ESSENTIALS created by Anu Prestonia located in Brooklyn, New York is one of the most energetic and positive young ladies that I have encountered in a long time, and her products represent her spirit and confidence in herself.

I was so excited to receive my package because it is the first time that I would write a review on an organic skincare line. My expectation of ANU ESSENTIALS was great but great is not the word…these products are AWESOME!

Anu was so generous with her sample sizes and full size products that I didn’t know which ones to try first, but I started with the Hair Oils. I received four scents in this category which are Green Tea, Honeysuckle, Medicinal and Herbal. These hair oils are simply wonderful because it gives the hair a gloss that was unbelievable! My hair is naturally shiny but after applying ANU ESSENTIAL HAIR OILS, my hair was beaming. It can be used on all hair types. I usually pour four to five drops and rubbed my hands together and rubbed it throughout my hair. The fragrances are luscious and not overbearing.

I also used the hair oils on my children’s hair and it kept their hair conditioned while they played in such hot weather this summer.

Next, are the tantalizing BODY BUTTERS. Oh wow, did I love these because they consist of shea butter! I had so much fun wearing these because it simply melts in the skin. I smeared a finger full on my arm and let it sit for a few seconds and you can actually see it melting and leaving a warm glow on the skin as I rubbed it in. I literally carry this in my pocket around the house for when I wash my hands frequently and the body butters relieve dryness instantly.

ANU ESSENTIALS – BODY BUTTERS come in four beautiful scents, Juicy, Sultry, Fresh and Balmy. These body butters are to be used all over the body and the texture is very smooth and it doesn’t leave a greasy feeling.

ANU ESSENTIALS HAIR – OIL/SKINCARE/NAILCARE/BATH OIL product that I received was a 4 ounce bottle in Golden Blossom. This was my absolute favorite. I used it for everything from adding a few drops to my bath to using it as a moisturizer on my eyebrows and the cuticles for my nails.

Golden Blossom is my favorite scent because of the sweet orange oil in it. It is a light citrus scent with sweet almond oil and vitamin E added for protection.

My five year old son especially likes Golden Blossom because he always tells me he wants to put on the oil that smells like orange juice!

Now that I put on hair oils and body butters, I need soap to wash it off and start the regimen all over again. I had the absolute pleasure of experiencing an exhilarating range of soaps that are clear, colorful and most importantly handmade.

ANU ESSENTIAL SOAPS are glycerin rich and made with coconut, olive and other plant-based oils. You can see these ingredients layered in the soaps and it will give your shower a glow of light with its vibrant colors that leaves your skin silky smooth.

Just have fun! I tried several at the same time because with ANU ESSENTIALS you can mix and match or use the same scent family for soaps and body butters. There are no chemicals in ANU ESSENTIALS so that is why layering is easy and safe to do.

These soaps come in Sultry, Fresh, Juicy, Green Tea and Balmy and the size of the soap fits comfortably in your hands.

The soaps are my daughter’s favorite and she loves the scent of Juicy the best!

Anu has spent much time and research into providing a lively and healthy product line that can be used for men and women and are safe for children’s delicate skin.

Anu is currently creating more of the best products in Brooklyn and will be establishing a perfume line soon.

Anu makes the art of nurturing your mind, body and spirit look so easy, feel so good and smell so awesome!

DESCRIPTION OF SCENTS

• Golden Blossom – made with a blend of citrus essential oils and it produces a bright and refreshing aroma.

• Herbal - made with a blend of essential oils that are produced from the flowers of green herbs. It has a clean, light and airy scent.

• Honeysuckle- made with a blend of essential oils, resins and balsams that produce a deep and exotic aroma.

• Medicinal- is a special solution for scalp problems and made the rosemary herb that is known for its healing properties. This product will relieve itchy, flaky and dry scalp problems.

• Sultry- made with essential oils, balsams and resins that produce a deep relaxed and sensuous mood.

• Balmy- made with a blend of essential, resins and balsams that conjure up images of a balmy summer evening.

• Fresh- made with a blend of essential oils produced from the flowers of green herbs. It is an uplifting and naturally refreshing scent.

• Juicy- made with a blend of essential oils that are bright and zesty.

• Green Tea- this is the scent of an Asian Tea Field that is calming and soothing.

PURCHASE: www.anuessentials.com

from my potted garden

I’m not a professional photographer by any stretch of the imagination, but I was rather proud of this pic that I took last summer of my potted lantana flower.  I find this flower so intriguing.  Take a gander at how in this photo (above) there are three stages of development; starting with the smallest of buds.  Of course there are the obvious two pink and yellow blossoms.  Then between them, there are two very tiny, green buds that are sitting vertically.  And to either side of the vertical buds  there sits another set of more developed buds with a hint of pink that are sitting horizontally. Always intriguing to me are the flower clusters or florets, that make up each flower.  Nature is so  amazing!

latana comes in a variety of color combinations

Then there’s the smell of the lantana.   It quite different, even for me, a person who loves odd smells.  I would say that most people may be off-put, by the smell of the lantana.  There’s only a hint of sweetness that you’d kind of have to search for.  The smell is  rather, well ‘interesting’, a little weird, kind of puts you in the mind of marigolds.  It has a sharp, funky, mossy kind of thing going on.  And I love it when I happen to brush up against it (as I often do when checking the mailbox for my mail) and its unique fragrance just wafts up to my nose making me go, ummhumm, wow that’s different…  I love that!

purple verbena

I only discovered the lantana a couple of years ago at the Green Market in Union Square, NYC.  They often have unique finds.  Not that the lantana is all that unique, but it was new to me.  I was looking for a purple verbenas and I found that the lantana is actually from the verbena family.  They do have a similar look.  I was also quite taken to find that there is  an lantana essential oil.  It’s not really a scent you’d find in natural perfumery, still, I rather like it.  Some of the uses for the lantana essential oil – antiviral, anti-tumor is great for treating cuts, ulcers and may help with bronchitis and asthma as well as with viral infections, stimulates the liver and gall bladder.  Again, nature is pretty amazing!  So the, next time you run into a lantana, brush us against it, put your nose to it or just pinch a little of it for a unique smelling experience.

The tuberose is a long, slender, fragrant, white flower with ancient and  tubular roots, native of Central America and Mexico.   The essence procured from this delicate beauty is not the kind of elixir that you get to know easily.  As it hits my nose, it has a sweet lightness and funky depth at the same time, requiring that I smell it again and again as both my mind and heart grasp to define it.  In the ancient Khamitic (Egyptian) religion, tuberose oil was, and is still used when making holy water to anoint yourself when working to invoke the energy of the deity Ausar a.k.a. Osiris,  The Incorruptible One.  It’s no easy task to possess the evolved energy of Ausar.  One needs to do rituals and make sacrifices of the personality that keep the heart still and the thoughts pure.  Always draped in pure white clothing, Ausar is also known as the Unifier, the One that sees all, as One.

There is a beauty, an elegance and a enigmatic quality in the scent of tuberose.  It’s a middle note but depending on the source, it can linger close to the deeper end of the heart notes with its intensity.  The heavier versions can certainly make any blend smell deeper more complex.  Perhaps that is why it considered a narcotic and an aphrodisiac.   I have an exquisite tuberose from Enfluerage that has a much lighter and refined quality.  The complexity of it seems to be in at the bottom of the scent, instead of smelling the depth of this oil from the start, it seems to hide out and then slowly, the deeper element of this tuberose rises up to the surface.  Light or heavy tuberose seems to evolve several times as its bouquet unfolds; leaving you with the impression that you have just experienced something that defies deduction.

I find that tuberose is beautiful beyond compare, nothing else smells quite like it.   Though some say it’s similar to jasmine.  Not surprising, since that’s the scent of Auset, Ausar’s wife.  Tuberose demands respect because of it’s complexity, beauty and ah, price.  Price aside, this is definitely a treasured essence in any collection of botanicals or as an element included in a well crafted perfume.

June is rose month in New York’s Brooklyn Botanic Garden.  It’s the time of year when their roses really show off their exquisite beauty.   After centuries of use, the oil procured from roses continues to be one of the most sought after essences in perfumery.  Even if you can’t readily identify it (real rose, not synthetic) in a perfume, it’s in there, rounding off the sharp notes and lending some of its beauty to every other component of the blend.  Roses are grown in many countries but some of the most beloved rose essences come from roses grown in Arabia, India, Bulgaria, Egypt and Turkey, with each region’s rose and even each rose garden or farm has it’s own distinct essence.  Even from year to year, a crop from the same region can smell different because of such variables as the change in climate.

Each rose variety offers a unique experience and while roses are legendary for their seductive smell, what many aren’t aware of, is that like with most plants, the oil from roses have tremendous healing abilities.  The smell of roses and the essence (oil) distilled from roses are legendary for having aphrodisiac qualities.   Rose oil used therapeutically heals the heart, soothes the immune and nervous systems, has anti-aging qualities, repairs the skin and creates a relaxing vibration. The list of benefits are endless.

While I’m not affiliated with the Young Living Company, they have the most comprehensive and easy-to-read web page on many of the astounding benefits of rose oil. And for those who can, tonight Wednesday June 1^st is Rose Night at Brooklyn Botanic Garden – Cranford Rose Garden.  BBG has one of the most extensive rose gardens in the country. The Cranford Rose Garden has been one of BBG’s most popular attractions since it first opened in 1928, boasting an exceptional array of rose specimens from heirlooms to contemporary and everything in between.  So during this rose season, make certain to take the time to smell the roses, your heart, soul and nose will be glad you did.

Okay, I’ll admit it: the grapefruit is not what you might consider a ‘sexy’ fruit.  It doesn’t conjure up the lusciousness of some of the more exotic fruits like mango, guava or papaya, but the grapefruit for me is a special fruit that does hold its own for healing,  losing weight and adding sparkle to a perfume blend.

When I was very young my grandmother, who was sickly, ate a grapefruit every day at breakfast.  So I thought grapefruits were for sick people.  Though it wasn’t my fruit of choice back then, I loved the way my mom would slice it in half and then cut around all the sections for easy scooping.  But in those days, the only way I knew to eat a grapefruit was have plenty of sugar sprinkled on it… Today I eat a grapefruit pretty much like I eat an orange.  Most of the time, I just peel the skin and eat the sections one by one.  Or I may cut it up in quarters.  And my preference is pink grapefruit, and I’ll take that organic, thank you!

As a teen, one of my aunts who was often watching her weight, used to eat grapefruits, so I had the impression that is was meant for those who wanted to be slim.

Today I find both thoughts were equally correct. Grapefruits are a great fruit with essential nutrients that can aid in healing and they’re also helpful in burning calories and breaking down fats in the body.  I imagine that the acid helps to dissolve some of the gunk in us.  I experience a refreshing feeling after consuming a grapefruit and needless to say, I dropped the sugar-coating decades ago.

I also enjoy smelling and working with grapefruit essential oil.  Yes, like with food, grapefruit is not considered a ‘sexy’ scent.  It’s not Tuscan blood orange, yuzu or bergamont, but it has its own unique character that it lends to a blend.

Like with eating it, the pink grapefruit essence has a refreshing quality that is light, effervescent, and I imagine that some of what I smell is the natural pink of it.

According to trade magazine Perfumer & Flavorist, citrus scents are just continuing to build in their popularity, especially as more exotic citruses are made available for perfumery such as yuzu, mandarin, eau de brouts, calamansi and blood orange which is currently in vogue.  Who knew that botanicals, like fashion, can be ‘in vogue’, that hot commodity that is in demand?

So while grapefruit may not be sexy, it certainly continues to hold my attention and inspires me in the art of perfumery when searching for that sparkly top note.

After reading this wonderful article on Perfume Pharmer’s blog, I simply had to share it.  Thank you Monica Miller for graciously allowing me to share.  I sat with tears streaming down my face as I read this story. I once braided Nina’s hair and it was an extraordinary experience. I knew I was in the presence of a great artist.

My friend for the last 15 years, Al Schackman was Nina Simone’s Music Director, guitarist, and one of her closest allies and friends for 46 years. It was a complex relationship with many ups and downs mostly due to Nina’s  emotional condition but through the years when people would take him aside  and question “why do you put up with her, why do you stay with her.”  Al would simply say, “She’s my sister, I love her with all my heart , she needs me and I don’t expect you to put up with her behavior.”

Al Schackman and Nina Simone, 1997

My relationship with Nina Simone was non-verbal. She had a rule that the girl friends and wives of band members were not allowed on tour because she wanted nothing to interfere with her getting the undivided attention of ‘her boys’.

Perfumes for Nina

When I did go to a concert she and I would look at each other and her telepathic message to me would be something like…”I know who you are and I’m Ok with that you are here. Thanks for the perfume”. Nina was struggling with her depression most of the time, I understood that and respected her distance. I felt her affection though the little waves she would give me… a barely perceptable lifting of her fingers from the arm of her chair and a “look” through lowered lashes.

She was very seductive, although I’m not sure she knew that. The perfume I made for her was just that….seductive. It was an oriental  sambac/ moroccan rose with narcissus, vanilla, chamomile and real musk. Very heavy and sexy, so Nina. The full blown rose, huge and red.  She was a Goddess to me.

Later on when Nina had breast cancer she asked Al for “something for the soreness” from “your wife”. I supplied Nina with my Aromatic Healing Balm that she used on her scars for healing and to help with the pain. She really liked that. Nina’s perfume I made for her in liquid and solid form. The solid perfume she used as a deodorant and the liquid she would apply as a light spray on her clothes and on her pillow.

@Sherrie Rieger 2006

When Al went on tour she would always call and instruct him to “bring my perfume”. She really wanted and appreciated it. I loved making it for her and called it “Rose of Love” although I think the Jasmine was the key aroma that helped with her depression.

Nina's Amber Necklace

When Nina  died her daughter Lisa gave me an amber necklace that had belonged to her. When I put it on a huge shockwave of energy went into my heart. I felt a  warmth wash over me as if I had enveloped myself in the fur coat  of a mama panther, black and silky and fiercer than anything. I realized then the courage it took Nina to get through every day, and why her music imparts such emotional courage to so many. It’s like, I’m in pain, I know you are too, we are in it together.

– Monica “Skye” Miller, Contributor

Monica (Skye) Miller Natural Perfumer and founder of Skye Botanicals  Her fragrance  Fuzzy Blue Blanket, is also a floral chypre, similar to the one she created for Ms. Simone.www.skyebotanicals.com.

Skye ,your memoir honors Nina Simone  in a deeply evocative way that few could ever capture in words. You honor Cafleurebon

From Nina Simone’s song Last Rose of Summer:

The Jasmine flower is a wonder: a small, delicate bloom that gifts us with a complex and alluring essential oil.

Over the years I’ve studied the history and practiced the spiritual principles of ancient Egypt. The powerfully affecting Jasmine flower is said to belong to Auset, The Great Mother deity of Khamit. (This is the name the people of ancient Egypt gave to their homeland).

The Great Mother has dominion over the ocean; her love of nurturing is as deep as the sea. Her fluid movement allows a way around or through virtually any obstacle. She embodies devotion, compassion, receptivity and bounty and is the healer of healers. Some other names associated with the Great Mother principle are Isis, Ama, Yemaya, Mami Wata, Mary, Mother of Jesus and Mother Nature.

When working with Jasmine oil, I know I’m handling something very precious: the essence of ever-present divine love.

This intriguing scent is associated not with the frivolity of romantic courtship, but with the deep and abundant love required to sustain a successful marriage and to cherish and care for children.The essence of the Great Mother can also be used to heighten receptivity and intuition.

Cowrie shells and crystals are symbolic of the Great Mother. The folds and openings of cowries evoke the gateway to the womb and nature’s sparkling waters are celebrated in the brilliance of crystals. Our bride is wearing a cowrie-shell headpiece adorned with crystals to crown her Senegalese Twists. This ideal bridal hairstyle will last through the wedding night and look fresh throughout your honeymoon, even if you’re frolicking in Great Mother’s sea.

Turn to Jasmine early on during your wedding plans, to help diffuse any angst about the big day. Your honey will know he’s chosen wisely when you summon the calm of the Great Mother to deal with crazed (but well-meaning) family members and overzealous wedding planners. Anoint yourself with perfumes infused with the calming essences of Jasmine, such as Therapeutate’s Chakra 2.

The use of a jasmine infused perfume can double as aromatherapy to help you to embody the tranquil power of Great Mother Auset. Remember the goal is to be married, not harried. Navigate your days with the knowledge of flower power and let natural essences work their magic on your body, mind and spirit.  All is in divine order.

Chakra 2 a transporting scent, is a modern take on the Oriental accord. Comprised of sustainable Sandalwood, Patchouli, Sweet Jasmine and Blood Orange, this Buddhistic harmony of notes is smoky, musical and grounding to the sacral. When applied directly to the area of the second chakra it supports clearer intuition and integration.

Associated with the second chakra are the reproductive organs, the hips, sacrum, lower back and kidneys, as well as the body’s many liquids, including blood, urine, menses and tears. Chakra 2 can help to elevate your health and vitality while enveloping you in the sweet and captivating scents of Mother Nature.

Head piece is by www.Beaulonistyle.com.

Beauloni Wedding GownGown by www.Cassandrabromfield.com

Perfume – Therapeutate

Photographer for hair – http://www.Going-Natural.com

Anu Essentials 327 Gold Street Brooklyn, NY 11201

Egyptian Goddess Auset created by Metu the Artist
www.artofmetu.com

Disclosure: Anu was given a free sample of Chakra 2 Parfum for the purposes of this review. This perfume review is a PEER REVIEW, meaning that Perfumers and owners of related business may choose to celebrate a perfume constructed by a PEER, a fellow perfumer know personally to the reviewer or not known personally to the reviewer.

Some loyal readers of this newsletter/ blog  may remember me introducing you to Michael Boadi last summer in my post Some Like It Green.  Michael is a black man hailing from England who has an exquisite perfume line.  Well, You may be interested to know that Catherine ‘Kate’ Middleton, the ‘Duchess of Cambridge,’ made history on her wedding day by wearing a perfume designed by Michael Broadi! One can’t help but think that this is a bride Princess Diana would have adored. Catherine obviously has a mind of her own, very much like her deceased mother-in-law.

While First Lady Michelle Obama was in England she also met with Michael and purchased three of his perfumes.  I guess Michael just has that ‘royal touch,’ perfuming the two most prominent women on the world stage.  Go Michael!!!

This is such a tremendous accomplishment and I am so very proud of Michael!  It’s amazing to me how few black people are found in the perfume industry, so this is, indeed, a great accomplishment to be recognized!  Rumor has it that there’s been a bit of jealously around Michael getting the royal nod.  Guess which side of the pond that jealousy is stemming from?  You guessed it, good ole’ USA.

That aside, I see nothing but more greatness coming from Brother Boadi.  It is my hope, also, that he will be headed in the direction of more naturals essences as time goes on. Congratulations Michael from your sisters and brothers from this side of the pond!!!

To read more on the lush details about this wedding scent of choice, see Felicia M. Hazzards blog Fragrance Belles-Lettres Magazine article  – White Gardenia Petals – by Michael Boadi

The Anu Essentials brand of products makes every effort to only include top-quality natural ingredients. While we have had both naturally and synthetically scented products in our line, I am steadily moving towards naturally scented products only for Anu Essentials.  I understand that some of our clients are not on board with the demise of synthetic scented products in our product line.  Please accept my apology for using synthetic fragrances in any of our products to begin with.  Understand that my decision is made with your overall and long-term health in mind.  Think about it, how ‘heavenly’ can it be, if it’s killing you?  That being said, if you feel you simply must have Heavenly, you might consider checking out the original.  It’s called Angel perfume.  But I highly recommend you first read ‘Angel Perfume is Dangerous‘ before purchasing it.

Here’s my thinking: When we get up in the morning, most of us don’t just roll out of bed and onto the street.   For many of us there are any number of grooming rituals we partake in every day and these include many products. The list begins with toothpaste, then soap, body moisturizer – some type of lotion, cream, or butter.  Then we have deodorant, hair products, shampoo, conditioner, hair oils, gels etc.  Then, to top it all off, we may put on some type of perfume or cologne.  Whewww!  Not to mention make up…

If you add up all the above products and then multiply them by a minimum of 10 synthetic ingredients, you have hundreds of synthetic carcinogens that you’re introducing to your skin and internal system every day.  But in today’s world, we can easily find all of the above products made from all-natural ingredients.  Yes, they do cost more, but either you pay now or you pay later with the demise of your health.  And I’m not even going to get started with household cleaning products…

All those synthetically produced products are bought inexpensively from your local ‘drug’ store.  The reason they are inexpensive is because it costs little to nothing to produce them.  Many synthetic products are by-products of other chemicals, like Petrol a.k.a. ‘petroleum’ or  ‘gasoline.’ Remember petroleum jelly and how most black families had a huge jar of this cheap item to slather all over both the adults and the children?  Well, when you know better, you do better!

As we all have been taught in biology, the skin is our largest organ and as such, is the gateway to our internal system and our organs.  What we put on our skin (and scalp) seeps into our bloodstream. If these items are synthetic they wreak havoc with the organs that filter out poisons /toxins, such as our lymph system, kidneys and liver.  Every time we expose your bodies to synthetic chemicals (products) we are putting stress and strain on these precious organs, none of which we can afford to tax.  They are taxed enough just from our breathing toxic air and eating chemically tainted food.  Both cheap and expensive synthetic products introduce carcinogens in our body-systems daily.  And we wonder why there’s no ‘known’ cure for cancer!

On the flipside, natural products, particularly those that include botanical ingredients such as herbs in all their various forms (oils, infusions, barks, resins, flowers, and leaves) are the best products for all of us.  These are gifts provided in nature by the Creator and as such, they share our DNA.  They don’t tax our systems, but work in harmony with us and provide healing, cell-recognition, repair and rejuvenation.

The same is true of natural perfumery.  There is a large movement, not only in America, but globally, turning towards all things natural, including perfumery.  Most commercial perfumes all full of synthetic materials that make up the smell of the perfume, allowing the perfume to last all day and night and to be smelled from several feet away. These scents can even last for several days if you don’t wash them off.

Many people are now finding that they are allergic to synthetic perfumes, even when they, themselves, aren’t wearing them. Just being enclosed in a space (work, church, or an elevator) with someone wearing commercial perfumes has a hazardous effect on some, triggering coughing, breathing difficulty and asthma attacks.

Many institutions of consciousness and health, and even some businesses, don’t allow people to wear perfume.  When I was training to become a yoga instructor we could not wear perfume to class because of the increasing numbers of people who have allergic reactions. Synthetic perfume is toxic and those who have respiratory deficiencies can’t breath when they are around it.

Most of us are going natural or are natural, with our hair, our diet and lifestyles.  Today people are living much longer than ever, but quality of life is important too.  Who wants to be sick, especially if they can avoid intoxicating themselves with synthetic materials?!   Consider the number of products you’re using every day and try to get rid of the ones that do not belong in your life.  In this way you can play an active and preventive role in your health and the health of your family.

At Anu Essentials we want you to live long and be healthy.

Anu Essentials

Smell Good * Feel Good * Look Good

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I attended the Elements Showcase on Monday evening, not too sure what to expect.  But as the name suggests, it was about show and tell.  There was no buying or selling.   It was a strategic plan to  position this event so that it coincided with the International Gift Show held at The Jacob Javits Center.   The Elements Showcase was just one block away from the Gift Show.  How very convenient!  I had also attended the Gift Show the day before and noted that not many perfume companies were in attendance with the exception of those selling fragrances for home or office and luxury face and body products, for the spa industry.   The only stand alone perfume house in attendance that I came across, was Lubin, a perfume house that has been in existence since 1798.  But I’m getting ahead of myself… Continue reading…

One of my neighbors, is new to the neighborhood, new as a homeowner and as a gardener.  But she is a real quick study and jumped right in with turning her thumb a great shade of green.  The lovely geraniums she put out on her brownstone steps this past spring are still blooming.  It’s now November, we’re ten degrees below normal, with temps in the low 30’s and these flowers look as perky as ever.  Each day when I leave my home and see that my dear neighbor has not one, but three different geranium plants still vibrant and blooming with color, I am both delighted and amazed.  And I know what I’ll be buying more of next spring…

Seeing these Geraniums bloom in this weather reminds me of how much I like and use geranium oil.  It is a floral scent that is not often used in natural perfumery, since it is considered too common for such a high art.  But when it comes to aromatherapy and healing geranium still holds its own.

I love mixing geranium and lavender oils to scent my bath when I’ve had a hard day or a taxing workout.  It has a soothing scent and helps me to relax and linger longer in my bath.  It is also great as an antiseptic and as an astringent.  I also use some geranium in the Anu Essentials Fresh products, like the Fresh Body Butter and Fresh Soap.  So if you’re in the mood for a pick me up remember the hardy and helpful geranium.

Recently I attended an event here in New York City called ‘Learn What Makes A Fragrance’ presented by CEW (cosmetic executive women) and hosted at the very classy, Harmonie Club.   I’d never been surrounded by so many women in suits regarding fragrance, there were approximately 300 women in attendance.  And it made me realize these women are being paid handsomely for their love of perfumery.  These very smart and talented ladies are at the top of their game.  I was happy to see them as I’ve always heard that the perfume industry is highly male dominated.

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When I first read Mandy Aftel’s Essence and Alchemy: A Natural History of Perfume I dreamed of one day going to study with this incredible perfumer.  But I imagined studying with Mandy to be some far off fantasy that was not possible.   I assumed that she was unreachable, other worldly.  She became my fragrance s-hero.  Mandy Aftel is owner and natural perfumer of Aftelier Perfume, located in Berkeley, California and is known world-wide for her beautiful, natural fragrance creations and as the premier authority on natural perfumery. Continue reading…

It seems when I was in High School I discovered the color green.  It became my favorite color and my wardrobe was filled with shades of green.  As time went on, I realized that I really appreciated other things green, including green scents.

This summer I delighted in acquiring and wearing Mandy Aftel’s Trevert.  Trevert is a beautiful, green scent with the mysterious oils of tuberose and amber at the heart of the scent holding all those green notes together.  With Mandy’s scents you can always expect the best as she globe-trots the planet in search of the highest quality botanicals to create her scents.  Trevert  has an undertone of mystery, like walking into an forest, not certain of what will unfold, but knowing in your heart something enchanting will be revealed. Continue reading…

Last year I received a gift of Chandler Burr’s book ‘The Perfect Scent‘- A Year Inside the Perfume Industry in Paris and New York.  Though it had not a word in it about natural perfumery, I was intrigued about the fanatical goings-on, inside the multi billion dollar, chemical perfume industry.  And I will admit, I went out and bought two perfumes after reading The Perfect Scent.  I purchased the Sel de Vetiver by The Different Company and Un Jardin Sur Le Nil by Jean Claude Ellena.

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Today as a gentle wind blew, I was pleasantly visited by the seductive scent of the honeysuckle vine blooming in my garden.  What a treat!  I stopped dead in my tracks to truly experience the moment.  I took in a few long, deep breaths of this lovely scent.  The gifts from nature never cease to amaze me in their beauty and their giving…

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Taking good care of yourself is one good thing that many Moms can’t seem to find the time to do. And one really easy and accessible fix for a tired mine, body and spirit, is bathing. As far as I’m concerned bathing is paramount to a spiritual experience. To be able to cleanse the body daily, is a true blessing often taken for granted in our culture. The ritual of bathing is renewing, refreshing and soothes the spirit. And a shower is no comparison to soaking in a tub of warm water. What makes this experience all the more special for me, is knowing that I am cleansing and moisturizing with products that are healthy for my body and that uplift my mind and spirits! This is what Anu Essentials offers for your morning and/or evening bathing ritual. Natural handmade soaps and Body Butters scented with botanicals.

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This year I attended along with fellow perfumer, Rodney Hughes of Therapeutate Bkny, the 2010 “New York Smells” Sniffapalooza, walking tour.   There were two days to the tour, but we attended the second day, which took place in lower Manhattan, covering boutique fragrance houses in SoHo, NoHo and Greenwich Village.  Rodney and I weigh in on our impressions.

Here are some of the highlights:

First Stop: Bond No. 9

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Whether we realize it or not, the seasons have a significant bearing on us and on our spirits.  Each change of seasons brings its own influence upon us.  And just as they have an effect on nature and the environment, they also leave their mark on us.  We would do well to notice and participate in acknowledging the effects and changes that accompanies each season.  Spring is just about here and those of us that live through cold winters can especially note the difference as this new juncture is being ushered in.

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One thing that can cause me to completely lose track of time, is making natural hair and body products using essential oils, resins and balsams. There is such a wide range of nature’s oils, that blending these live substances is a mixture of art and science.  In addition to their healing powers, these oils (many of them classified as precious) possess the ability to affect your consciousness, to relax or stimulate or send you reeling down memory lane.  Continue reading…

Two of my favorite perfumers Annick Goutal and Mandy Aftel see their sales climb even in this economy.

Ask some folks if they prefer essential oils or fragrance oils and they have no idea what the difference is.  And often times nor do they care about the difference.  All they know is what smells good to them.  I can certainly understand that—knowing that smell and scent preferences & dislikes are very instinctive and individual choices. Continue reading…

The Christmas season is a time when peppermint (candy) is ever popular.  When I was a little girl, as much as I liked candy, Christmas candy was my least favorite.  It reminded me of medicine, though without other choices, I’ll admit, I still ate it.  I now realize those Christmas candies were spiced with herbs like anise, fennel, ginger etc.  But the herbal candy that was always a treat was the abundant peppermint.

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Dear friend, it’s been some time since I weighed in on “our” exercise regime.  And what I’m wondering is, are there other folks out there like me, who need to switch it up?  I know that there are those who jog nearly every day of the year and others that go to the gym on a regular basis.  But I’ve noticed over the years, there’s just no one exercise program that I can ever stick to year in and year out.  I have to switch it up.

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There are some things that can cause you to smile and offer you a glimpse into the experience of pure joy.  And often, it’s the simple things that bring you joy.  If you’re not paying attention, you might miss the moment that delighted your heart.  I know these heart warmers can be very different for everyone, but here is a list of my favorites:

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On a little vacation with my sister friends this August I was in my glory just having hours of nothing to do but sit under an umbrella and read.  I love reading, that’s my idea of precious time.  I decided to check out Diahann Carroll’s book, “The Legs Are The Last To Go” Aging, Acting, Marrying and Other Things I Learned The Hard Way.   Honey, make no mistake Diahann Carroll is a bona-fide Diva, in every sense of the word.  And she make no qualms in telling you so.  I enjoyed her audaciousness, her decision to reveal herself warts and all; as well as to celebrate herself.

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One thing I’ve come to realize about myself is, how much I am affected by the seasons.   Am I stating the obvious?  I believe that some of us are much more affected by the change of season than others.

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When did it get like this? that I don’t feel totally me with out my side-kick a.k.a. my iphone.   There used to be a time when I’d leave my house and if I had left my phone at home,  it was no biggie, I had a land-line at work.   But if I leave my cell home these day, there’s no doubt about the fact that I’m doubling back to  fetch it.  Forget American Express’s slogan about not leaving home with out it!  How about WON’T [knowingly] leave home with out my iphone.

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As the summer closes, my days of free-toes are drawing to an end. One of the things I look forward to when the weather turns warm is busting out my many pairs of Birkenstock sandals. If you know anything about me, you know that I’m a happy feet kind of gal. And with my Birkenstocks on, my toes are free, my arch is supported and I’m as happy as can be, at least my feet are.

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When the economic crisis start getting really fierce in the last quarter of 2008, was around the same time the lease was ending on my Infiniti FX a.k.a luxury gas-guzzler. Don’t get me wrong; I sincerely enjoyed driving that car. Still, I felt guilty for riding around in a car that required so much gasoline. At the height of the gas increases I was spending over $70 to fill up my gas tank, every 7-14 days. The Infiniti is esthetically cutting edge, luxuriously designed and technologically efficient. But the Prius features many of the same technological designs as the Infiniti, like back up camera, smart key, and GPS. All the more reason to go with a gas saver because driving the Infiniti made me feel in my own way, I was contributing to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan…

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A number of months ago I wrote a blog post commiserating about my seemingly overnight weight gain. I was determined to combat this weight gain as it crept steadily up from one week to the next. At one point it got to be a bit hilarious, as I would step on the scale only to see that yes, I had indeed gained another pound. Is Candid Camera in the house? I had never been over 145 and now I was nearing 160 with no slow down in sight. What the heck???

My friend Mireille suggested that I visit her doctor, Homeopath Dr. Salzarulo. Well that began a journey and an exploration that I hadn’t expected. What doctor Salzarulo’s plan for me made me realize, was that I had moved so far away from my original “clean” diet that it was no wonder that things were changing for the worse. I asked him, “Is it normal to gain weight in mid-life, during peri-menopause stage in life”? His answer was that if gaining weight during this stage in life were universal, then he could say yes. But in many places in the world this mid-life weight gain does not occur. He informed me that it was a matter of the body being very much out of balance, full of toxins and adjusting in the way that it could.

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Despite the very strange weather that we’ve been having, the gardening season is officially here. A couple of weeks ago on Memorial Day weekend, my sister and I braved the Brooklyn Terminal market (and its pushy patrons) on a sunny and bright Sunday morning. The weather was beautiful that weekend. The kind of weather you expect in NY during the late spring. We were laser as we focused in on what we needed to fill our window boxes and planters.

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My love affair with jewelry began innocently enough many years ago (when I was in my twenties) and then grew into a full-blown obsession. It got so bad that seven months ago I took what was supposed to be a year’s hiatus from purchasing jewelry. But recently, (seven months later) I fell off the wagon. I’ll tell you more on that topic later.

Over the years I have bought jewelry, out grown it, became bored with it and passed it on, only to acquire more baubles and beads. My taste in jewelry ranges from the subtle to the fierce and I enjoy the array of options. I just accept that on different days I have different vibes and I let my jewelry express the mood I’m in. I have jewelry that’s funky, artsy, romantic, and ethnic, inexpensive, expensive and so on. I can go from the ultra conservative to the wild and funky from one day to the next.

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As a birthday gift, my niece, Zauditu invited me to a day at a spa. Now normally, if you say spa I start drooling, but she said Korean Spa and immediately I had a whole different response, because I had heard these spas are like bathhouses. And personally, I don’t go in for “public bathing”. I start having all kinds of ideas about how sanitary can it be? But I decided that since she was so excited about the idea, I would just say yes. Amazing things happen when you say, “yes” in life and I’m definitely up for what’s amazing.

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The first time I saw a picture of a peony, I feel in love with this gorgeous flower and it’s been a mad romance since that day. And this began with a mere picture of the flower. Never mind the fact that it was the middle of the summer. I knew not much about gardening, except that I had just caught the gardening bug. I purchased the peony roots and proceeded to plant them in the dead of the summer. Of course since peonies are to be planted in the fall, nothing came of those efforts, except a loss of money and a great lesson learned. RIF, reading is fundamental. Had I read the package, I would have known this was not the right time for planting peonies.

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When was the last time you took a bath? Yes, I know you bathe everyday, but I’m referring to actually sitting down in a tub of water, with bubbles, and candles and just relaxing. I use to have a weekly ritual of taking a bath every Sunday. That was one way to ensure I took a bath at least once a week.

Growing up in Virginia we didn’t have showers, only bathtubs. When as a child, my family relocated to NY and landed an apartment in a beautiful pre-war building, I was taken by the bathroom. Not only did we have a tub, we also had a stand-alone floor to ceiling, art deco tiled, shower stall. I never wanted to take a bath after that. But of course my mother would insist we take baths from time to time.

As an adult I definitely realized the value in taking a bath, but I had an experience that caused me fall off my weekly ritual. I had some work done in my house a few years ago. One bathroom had a shower stall and the other had no shower at all, just a tub. Well for some unknown reason, my contractor took a year to return and finish the bathroom with the shower. So for a year, I had to take a bath every single time I needed to bathe.

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What do I love about spring? Ha! Let me count the ways… I know I’m not special for loving spring, who doesn’t? Besides the promise of life, the flowers, the rain, I love the way my body, mind, and spirit responds to spring, especially as it relates to yoga.

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My, some times it’s so cold in March you’re tempted ask the weather, “Hey don’t you get it, spring is here”? But despite the cold, I can still feel spring in the air. I see it all around me as the colors appear in my own front yard. I have some evergreen Vinca ground cover and it blooms tiny, little, five petal, purple flowers that seem to indicate, it won’t be too long now. There’s that Harbinger of spring, my puny, little, Forsythia with bright, yellow blooms on it. And of course I have my favorite of all time, a pink herbaceous Peony. Right now the only sign of the impending peony is a strange, dusty, burgandy bud. Yes, that’s the the weird looking thing in the picture above. My peonies are show-stoppers! They’re pink, one my favorite colors. And every year I wait for them to strut their stuff. They stop even the busiest person in their tracks to admire both their size and their beauty.

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It’s been 15 days since my fall in streets of Manhattan and today I feel better than I have in the last fifteen days. Walking around is no longer a painful experience. My ribs had been extremely painful since that fateful night. When I finally made it to the hospital two days after my fall, the Physician’s Assistant informed me that the only treatment for broken, fractured or bruised ribs are pain killers and time, all I could do was wait patiently for recovery. As anyone who knows me can tell you, patience is not my strong suit.

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I have been thinking about a Kindle (electronic reading device) since it first came out, I guess about two years ago. I saw the Amazon video featuring Toni Morrison on how she uses and appreciates the Kindle. Or was that just an ad? I can imagine for an author and a voracious reader as Toni, a Kindle makes a lot of sense. Imagine her toting ten books along with her on overseas journeys or she could just bring along one little Kindle on which she can store thousands of books.

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As you guys know, there’s nothing like setting a concrete goal for yourself and then having some event beyond your control come along and derail your intentions or at least your time line. That is what happened to me this weekend. I had a goal of doing 90 days of P90X because by the beginning of the summer I wanted to be able to fit easily in my colorful summer clothes and not look like it was a struggle to get them on.

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I have been exercising all my adult life. But my weight has been inching up little by little despite the fact that I was going to the “Y” three times a week. Over the years I’ve done a number of things to stay fit. In my college days I used to jog and somehow wreaked my knees. So I moved into power walking and bicycling. During the cold months I either belonged to a gym or workout at home with videotapes and then DVDs. Throughout all this I continued to practice my yoga on alternate days.

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While in Miami recently, my sisters and I went to visit the fabulous Ms. Ruth. To know Ruth, is to love her. She is one of the most “larger than life” people I’ve ever known. She’s an artist, very smart, and a psychic who responds with quick wit that’s always insightful and often hilarious regarding any and everything in life. She’s no joke! The first time I met Ruth was in 1979. Continue reading…

I’ve had an usually difficult time with the weather this winter. It seems that I’m always cold, cold at work, cold at home, cold in the streets. I do all I can do to warm myself up. I wear thermals, layers, drink plenty of tea, wear socks to bed, you name it.

Although times are tough, funds are low; I recently took the plunge and went seeking the sun and warmth of Miami Beach for a few days with my two sisters. I was anticipating that feeling of thawing out. Weeks before we left, I regularly checked on the weather. Finally I had to inform my sisters that they should bring along spring clothing because the temps were ranging between 50-70 degrees during the three weeks I was charting the Miami temps.

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On February 13th in honor of Valentine’s Day and in hopes of bringing understanding to the love thing, we had a small forum at Khamit Kinks around the idea of “Bringing Back Black Love”. Some times we called it Bringing Black Love Back! Anyway, I’m sure you get the idea. We had Love Dr. Karen Francis, bring her expertise on the matter to the floor. Karen has done a body of research on relationships, self-development and human behavior. She shared many insights and gave us some great advice, and it was obvious a great was had by all.

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During this Valentine’s Season I love to encourage my sisters to remember to love themselves, to get involved in fine art of Self Seduction. If you are without a mate at this time, that’s no reason not to celebrate this Valentine’s Day. It is said, that if you don’t love yourself, appreciate and treat yourself well, why should someone else want to? It starts with you! Here are a few of my ideas for celebrating Valentine’s Day, if your “significant other”, hasn’t arrived in your life just yet.

What not to do: Whatever you do, don’t have a pity party! Do not engage in self talk that is defeatist. That’s definitely not the move for putting yourself in the proper frame of mind to attract that soul-mate who is headed your way.

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From time to time I’ll have a sleepless night. I used to just lay there stressed about not being able to get back to sleep. That certainly wasn’t the answer for getting back to sleep. Over the years I’ve come across some great remedies listed below.

What not to do: Don’t lie there thinking of a million things, thinking about “problems” and challenges, contemplating the next days events etc, that will not get you back into that lovely land of slumber. On the contrary, as they say in yogic philosophy the “Drunken Monkey” (mind chatter) will take you over and you’ll be on a trip that will last way past sunrise. If you’ve been lying there for over 30 minutes it’s time to get up and take action. I know, you’re tired and sleepy and don’t feel like getting up, but get up. I get up and here are some of the lovely things I do. Don’t do them all in one night, choose one or two of the following techniques per sleepless night.

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My weight has fluctuated throughout my adult life. If I was really stressed out, I lost weight and usually received a lot of compliments. Gee, Thanks. And when I was very happy I usually gained a few pounds. But it was mostly manageable. My weight fluctuations were in a 10 pound range and I could easily cut back on something or another that would get me back to my target weight. Fast forward to the approach of my second year in my 5th decade and I have noticed a change. I had always welcomed change, finding it either a fun challenge or exciting. This new change Perimenopause falls into neither of those categories.

For the first time in my life, my clothes are no longer fitting! This is serious! I can get my pants on and with some effort I can zip them, but I can’t button them at the waist unless I relinguish the fine art of breathing. What gives here? I’m doing all the things I used to do, regular aerobic and free weight exercises, yoga, eating “right”, not consuming too many sweets and as usual a minimum amount of alcohol. Despite all that, the pounds keep creeping up.

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Posit Science is a cutting edge company that’s dramatically changing lives with their software programs that improve memory. I first heard of Posit Science when it was first featured on a fund drive for WBAI. I immediately called up and pledged to receive a discount on Posit Science. See, I knew I needed something because I was constantly looking for my keys, my glasses, trying to remember the name of the person I just met two minutes ago! Some times I would even forget where I parked my car! Now that’s pretty bad.

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